poke

Command in most dialects if BASIC used to store a value in memory. The most basic aspect of BASIC, along with peek. When the fledgling hacker has realized the limitations of BASIC but not yet moved on from the larval stage, the hacker often pupates and spends some time idly poking around in obscure memory locations, glimpsing a glittering world of machine code and generally getting very little real programming done. After some time the hacker-to-be becomes aware of assembler or MC and escapes its tough, sinewy chrysalis of interpreted HLL and emerges into a new world filled with endless possibilities for fandango on core and screen hacks.

A large North American herb of the genus Phytolacca (P. decandra), bearing dark purple juicy berries; -- called also garget, pigeon berry, pocan, and pokeweed. The root and berries have emetic and purgative properties, and are used in medicine. The young shoots are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus, and the berries are said to be used in Europe to color wine.